Just available just across the Big River in SW Washington is the Vancouver Farmer's Market which still allows dogs whereas Portland's Saturday Market no longer does. In fact, there are at least a dozen farmer's markets in the 'burbs around Portland. Besides the best local produce, fresh flowers and nursery stock there's almost always plenty of cool craft booths, music, great food and of course - people watching to enjoy. We have such interesting characters around here, People Watching should be the official regional sport.

In the spring and summer many of the local flower wholesalers have free frestivals to open their display gardens to the public: Woodland Tulip Festival (WA) . Hulda Klager Lilac Festival (also in Woodland, WA). Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival (Woodburn, OR - don't get confused). Shreiner's Iris Gardens (Salem, WA) (where Mr. Stang proposed) Heirloom Roses Display gardens (St. Paul, OR) . Swan Island Dahlia Show (in Canby, OR not actually on Swan Island). This is of course a coy, and highly effective marketing ploy to get you to place pre-orders for the next season. And come away with a ton of very cheap, beautiful, fresh flowers if you've a mind to. (Tip - if you're planning a wedding on a budget, it's great to do so these peak bloom times as you can get a ton of gorgeous flowers, cheap right from the field).

More as I think of them...

All of these free attractions are probably one of the reasons a writer for the Travel section of the NY Times recently said, "Amid economic catastrophe — Oregon has the country’s second-highest unemployment rate — there was a general indifference to wealth. In its place was a dedication to the things that really matter: hearty food and drink, cultural pursuits both high and low, days in the outdoors and evenings out with friends. It’s the good life, and in Portland it still comes cheap." In other words - we're broke but we don't care.

Wellsprings

Babbles

River Banks

FCC Disclaimer: I receive no compensation at all for any of the text links in the sidebar unless they're noted as an "Ad by Google". I do receive commission if you order after clicking on any of the non-charitable graphic ads in the sidebar and some of the product/website links in blog posts themselves (which will be so noted in posts after Dec. 1)

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters." — Norman Maclean